Conditioning apparatus



Nov. 10, 1936. s. H. DOWNS CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 29, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Sax/a /7. flow/7a ATTORNEY$ Nov. 10, 1936. s. H. DOWNS CONDITIIONING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 29, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Jewel/ flow/7s ATTORN E Y5.

Patented a. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT FFIE CONDITIONING APPARATUS Sewcll H. Downs, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Application September 29, 1934, Serial No. 746,167

12 Claims. (ores-101 The objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a register through which air can be delivered at constant velocity regardless of the amount of air delivered to the register and passing therethrough.

Second, to provide such a register that is silent and eflicient in operation.

Third, to provide such a register that is adustable to give velocities as desired.

Fourth, to provide such a register having movable vanes so curved. as to present to air flowing therethrough a contour substantially that of an eflicient nozzle.

Fifth, to provide such a registerhaving fixed and adjustable vanes so that air passing from the register is directed therefrom in a uniformdimotion.

Sixth, to provide such a register for installation in a duct having a flow equalizer thereon adapted to cause air to flow from a side opening of the duct to uniformly strike the adjustable blades.

Seventh, to provide an equalizer for a register opening adapted to cause air to flow from a duct through a side opening therein at substantially all points of the side opening.

Eighth, to provide a system for ventilating or conditioning having variable volume control suitable for use with a constant speed motor and constant velocity registers combined to provide eflicient circulation in and ventilation of the spaces ventilated or conditioned by the system.

Objects relating to details of construction and operation will appear from the description to follow. A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my register installed.

Fig. 2 is a detail view partly in section showing the construction of the movable vanes and counterweights.

Fig. 3 is a plan view in section on line 33 of Fig. 4, showing my register installed at the side of a duct.

Fig. 4 is a detail view partly in section taken on line 4-4 of Fig; 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3 showing details of the blade and counterweight construction.

Fig. 6 is a View of a fan with a variable volume control means thereon to control the volume of air passing through the system on which my register is installed.

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic view of a system utilizing the improvements in a conditioning or ventilating system.

The parts will be identified by their numerals of reference which are the same in all the views.

i is a room to be ventilated or conditioned. is a centrifugal fan having a rotatable wheel I02 and a constant speed motor 3 and a variable volume regulator 4 comprising a plurality of blades 5 adapted to be closed to turn off the air passing to the fan or in open position to impart to air 10 entering the fan a swirl in the direction of rotation of the fan wheel. This control is fully described in my copending application, Serial No. 598,784, filed March 14, 1932, and need not be described in greater detail here.

6 is a duct leading from the room to the fan for recirculation of the air. There may be provided a duct 1 for receiving fresh air and a conditioner 8 if desired. It will also be understood that by-passes or the like can be used around the conditioner and that the volume regulator 4 may be automatically controlled by a thermostat or humidistat in the room or return duct, or otherwise suitably located.

9 is a duct leading from the fan to the room I.

My register l0 consists of a frame I 2 having a face flange l3. The frame I! has an opening l4 therein in which are a plurality of horizontally disposed fixed partitions l5 dividing the opening l4 into a plurality of horizontal passages IS.

The partitions I5 may be of any desired construc- 40 tion and I have shown them here as being of sheet metal with their front edges bent down'as at I l to give a finished appearance to the register.

In each horizontal passage I6, I provide a horizontally disposed blade l8 which is pivoted as at I8! at the rear of the top of the passage Hi to swing in its passage to adjustably restrict the same. These blades are counterweighted as will be later explained and have their surfaces curved so that at every position ofthe blade (see Fig. 5)

the blade presents to air passing through the passage IS a curved surface which approximates in contour the contour of an eflicient converging nozzle. In other words, the curve of the blade is a composite one made up from the curves of would probably be a 30 efllcient nozzles for the various sizes of openings presented by the blade in its different positions. The blades are turned up at their forward ends [9 to carry out the proper curve and also to present finished edges.

The blades I8 are of sheet metal and are mounted on shafts 20 which serve as trunnions. The portion 2| of the shaft 20 that extends into the passage I6 is half round and the blade I8 is fastenedthereto by having its rear portion 22 bent to conform to the half round portion 2| which is inserted therein. At each side of opening l4 and to the rear of face flange l5 are spaces 23 and 24 into which the ends of the shafts 20 extend, Members I23 and I24 close these spaces to form housings for counterweights 25 and 26 to shield them from dust and prevent interference with the adjustments.

The counterweights 25 and 26 are adjustable, consisting of arms 21 split to be clamped on the portion 22 of the shaft by means of the screw 28. The arms 21 are screw threaded at 29 to receive a weight 30 having a screw-threaded nut 3| engaging the threads 29 so that the counterweight may be moved along the arm 21. By adjusting the screw 28, the position of the counterweight with reference to the blade l8 may be adjusted. The counterweights 25 are adjusted to counterbalance the blades i8 exactly. It is, of course, in many instances, unnecessary to have counterweights if the blade happens to be of the desired weight, but in instances where it is desired to have an adjustable register, the adjustable counterweights are necessary.

The counterweights 26 are similar in construction to 25 and are arranged to oppose the swinging of the blade to open position as air passes through the register, and, as the air passing through the register decreases, the second counterweight 25 swings the blade l8 to restrict the horizontal passage I6.

With this arrangement it is possible to have a silent flow of air at very high velocity passing from the register without any whistling or noise due to inefiiciency of the apparatus.

It will be-noted that as the blade 18 swings to open the passage IS, the counterweights 26 will rise to exert less downward force than when the blade is partially closed. This compensates for the smaller projected area of the blade exposed to the flow of air passing through the passage 6. The projected area of the blade in every instance is substantially proportional to the cosine of the angle between the line dropped from the pivot l8! and a line corresponding substantially with the blade I8.

I have shown my register l0 installed in a duct 9. The opening in which the register is inserted is at the side of the duct and in order to cause an equal amount of air to pass toall parts of my register I provide equalizer means. These means consist of a plurality of blades 32. These blades are of sheet metal and extend from the opening 33 in which the register is installed transversely of and part way across;the duct 9. As shown, air enters the duct 9 in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3 from the inlet 34 of the duct 9. One of the blades 32 is located at a point adjacent the end of the opening 33 which end lies towards the inlet 34 and there are a plurality of the blades 32 spaced from the face plate and of progressively increasing length. Each blade has its end curved toward the inlet 34 to collect air passing through the duct 9' to distribute it evenly throughout the opening 33.

The combination of the equalizer and constant velocity register makes a very efiicient apparatus and the equalized flow of air to the register causes it to operate more efficiently since all parts of the blades l8 are acted upon identically by the air. The fixed partitions l5 serve to guide the air in a fixed direction away from the register ID as will be fully appreciated by those skilled in the art, while the blades l8 restrict the openings as the amount of air supplied decreases.

By combining my constant velocity register with my variable volume control for constant velocity vanes, in a circulating system, it is possible to obtain maximum efficiency with full and thorough circulation of the air. My velocity control for the fan gives utmost eificiency for power expended and gives an absolute control of the volume of air in a variable velocity system without any critical point which would be the case with dampers. Combining such absolutely graded volumes of air to my delicately attuned constant velocity register gives maximum circulation with even a minimum amount of conditioned air.

In operation, the air passes from the fan 2 to the duct 9. As the volume increases, the blades l8 are opened because of the force exerted on the blade I8. This provides a. greater opening and the velocity of air is not increased. As the volume of air supplied decreases, the force exerted against the blades I8 decreases and the counterweights 26 swing the blades IE to restrict the passageways I 6, thus maintaining a constant velocity.

It will be noted that as the volume of conditioned air supplied decreases, the velocity is maintained, thus assuring circulation of air at a time when it is most needed. The introduction of the jet of air sets up an induced circulation to maintain desired conditions in the room. My arrangement of a plurality of openings, each controlled by its blade, is most efficient in inducing circulation as the volume decreases, because as the volume decreases, the jets narrow and are farther apart so that each jet is more eiiective in inducing circulation of air in the room than when the full volume of air is being introduced. and the high velocity is maintained at all times to induce circulation, which is an important item in comfort conditioning.

The curvature of the blades to present a contour substantially that of an efficient converging nozzle eliminates noise. VIhen the register 10 is installed in a side opening of a duct as 9, air

flowing from the inlet 34 of the duct is distributed evenly over the whole surface of the register by the equalizer, causing equal forces to be exerted on the blades l8.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a' conditioning system, the combination of a room to be conditioned, a constant speed centrifugal fan having a rotatable fan wheel, a duct leading from the fan to the room, a volume control for the fan comprising a plurality of blades adapted to close ofi' air or in open position to impart to air entering the fan a swirl in the direction of rotation of the fan wheel, a constant velocity register in said duct leading to said room comprising a. frame, a plurality of fixed partitions dividing the register frame into a plurality of passages, a plurality of blades each trunnioned to swing in one of said passages to adjustably restrict said passage under control of the rate of fiow of air flowing to the register, each blade being curved to present a convex face to the opposing side of the passage and to air passing between the blade and said opposing sides, said face being so curved that at every position thereof it presents to air passing through the register a curved surface approximating incontour the contour of an efiicient converging nozzle.

2. In a conditioning system, the combination of a room to be conditioned, a constant speed centrifugal fan having a rotatable fan wheel, a duct leading from the fan to the room, a volume control for the fan comprising a plurality of blades adapted to close off air or in open position to impart to air entering the fan a swirl in the direction of rotation of the fan wheel, a constant velocity register in said duct leading to said room comprising a frame, a plurality of fixed partie tions dividing the register frame into a plurality of passages, a plurality of blades each trunnioned to swing in one of said passages to adjustably restrict said passage under control of the rate of flow of air flowing to the register. I

3. A constant velocity register comprising a register frame,. a plurality of fixed horizontal partitions dividing the register frame into a plurality of horizontal passages, a plurality of horizontally disposed blades each trunnioned to swing in one of said passages to adjustably restrict said passage, each blade being curved to present a convex face to the opposing side of the passage and to air passing between the blade and said opposing sides, said face being so curved that at every position thereof it presents to air passing through the register a curved surface aporoximating in contour the contour of an efiicient converging nozzle, and an adjustable counterweight for each blade arranged to oppose the swinging of said blade to open position whereby as the rate of flow of air passing through the register decreases said counterweight swings the blade to restrict the passage, said adjustable counterweight being so disposed that the effective length of its lever arm decreases as the projected area of the blade presented to air passing through the register decreases.

4. A constant velocity register comprising a register frame, a plurality of fixed partitions dividing the register frame into a plurality of passages, a plurality of blades each trunnioned to swing in one ofsaid passages to adjustably restrict said passage, and an adjustable counterweight foreach blade arranged to oppose the swinging of said blade to open position whereby as the rate of flow of air passingthrough the register decreases said counterweight swings the blade to restrict the passage.

5; A constant velocity register comprising a register frame, a plurality of fixed horizontal partitions dividing the register frame into a plurality of horizontal passages, a plurality of horizontally disposed blades, each trunnioned to swing in one of said passages to adjustably restrict said passage, and an adjustable counterweight for each blade arranged to oppose the swinging of said blade to open position whereby as the rate of flow of air passing through the register decreases said counterweight swings the blade to restrict the passage, said adjustable counterweight being so disposed that the effective length of its lever arm decreases as the projected area of the blade presented to air passing through the register decreases.

6. A constant velocity register, comprising a register frame, a plurality of fixed horizontal rality of horizontal passages, a plurality of horizontally disposed blades each trunnioned to swing in one of said passages to adjustably restrict said passage, each blade being curved, to present a convex face to the opposing side of the passage and to air passing between the blade and said opposing sides, said face being so curved that'at every position thereof it presents to air passing through the register a curved surface approximating in contour the contour of an efficient converging nozzle, and means arranged to oppose the swinging of said blade to open position whereby as the rate of flow of air passing through the register decreases said means swings the blade to restrict the passage.

7. A constant velocity register comprising a register frame, a plurality of fixed partitions dividing the register frame into a plurality of passages, a plurality of blades each trunnioned to swing in one of said passages to adjustably restrict said passage, each blade being curved to present a convex face to the opposing side of the passage and to air passing between the blade and said opposing sides, saidface being so curved open position whereby as-the rate of flow of air passing through the register decreases said means swings the blade to restrict the passage. 8. A constant velocity register comprising a register frame, a plurality of fixed partitions dividing the register frame into a plurality of passages, a plurality of blades each trunnioned to swing in one of said passages and to cooperate with a wall of one of said partitions and under control of the rate of flow of air flowing to the register to adjustably restrict said passage, each blade being curved to present a convex face to the opposing side of the passage and to air passing between the blade and said opposing sides, said face being so curved that at every position thereof itpresents to air passing through the register a curved surface approximating in contour the contour of an efficient converging nozzle. v

9. In a constant velocity register, a passage, a counterweighted blade trunnioned to swing in said passage to adjustably restrict the same, said blade being so curved that at every position there of it presents to air passing through the passage a curved surface approximating in contour the contour of an efficient converging nozzle, and a second adjustable counterweight for said blade arranged to oppose the swinging of said blade to openposition, whereby as the rate of flow of air passing through the passage decreases, said second counterweight swings the blade to restrict the passage.

10. In a constant velocity register, a passage, a blade trunnioned to swing free in said passage to adjustably restrict the same, said blade being curved to present a convex face to the opposing side of the passage and to air passing between the blade and said opposing sides, said face being so curved that at every position thereof it presents to air passing through the passage a curved surfaceapproximating in contour the contour of an efiicient converging nozzle, and means arranged to oppose the swinging of said blade to open position, whereby asthe rate of fiow of air passing 12. A constant velocity register comprising a register frame, a plurality of fixed partitions dividing the register frame into a plurality of passages, a plurality of blades each trunnioned to swing in one of said passagesto adjustabiy restrict said passage, and means arranged to op- V pose the swinging of said blade to open position whereby as the rate of flow oi! air passing through the register decreases said means swings the blade to restrict the passage. 7

' SEWEIL H. DOWNS. 

